Floating dry dock and pumping apparatus



July 10, 1945. F. R. HARRIS FLOATING DRY DOCK AND PUMPING APPARATUS 4sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 9, 194a INV ENTOR FEEDER/C RJIARRIS ATTORNEYJuly 10, 1945. F. R. HARRIS 2,379,902:

FLOATING DRY DOCK AND PUMPING APPARATUS- ATTORNEY July 10, 1945.- F. R.HARRIS 2,379,902

FIIOATING DRY 'DOCK AND PUMPiNG APiARATUS I Filed April 9, 1943 4Sheets-Sfieet 3 NWT p Fm 3.5.

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FLOATING DRY DOCK AND PUMPING APPARATUS I Fil ed April 9, .1943 '4Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG].

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Patented July 10, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT search Hoom OFFICE FLOATINGDRY DOCK AND PUTMPING APPARATUS 12 Claims.

This invention relates to floating dry docks, and particularly afloating dry dock which is made up of separate units assembled into acomplete dock and operated as such. In a clock of this type, theindividual units thereof may be called pontoons; although in thepractice Of my invention such units are of ship form and are equippedwith engines to enable them to travel independently under their ownpower to the site where the dock is to be assembled.

In a co-pending application Serial No. 482,376 entitled Multiple unitfloating dry dock, filed of even date herewith, I havedescribed andclaimed certain features of construction and operation of such drydocks. The present invention has to do with the flooding and pumping outof the pontoons, and an important object thereof is to provide for thesuitable arrangement of motive power apparatus, pumping equipment andconduits, and the. control of the units thereby, when the assembled dockis in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

A preferred embodiment of the invention for purposes of illustration isshown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sideelevation of the outline of a single pontoon revealing part of theinterior.

Figure 2 is a horizontal or top plan on a somewhat reduced scale, takenon the line 22 of Figure 1, giving a view of the pumping system.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section through part of apontoon showing details of the pumping system.

Figure 4 is a top plan of a scheme of water gauges, their positions andconnections to suitable indicators at a central panel in the pontoon.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the central indicating panel ofa pontoon; and connections therefrom to indicators in both the Dontoonand a master station on the dock.

Figure 6 is a plan diagram of the scheme shown in Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a top plan showing in outline the indicating and controlconnections for the assembled dock.

In the ensuing description the same numerals identify the same parts onall the views.

Referring to the drawings, the pontoon l comprises a hull, which isgenerally of ship form, with symmetrical bow and stem, the exactconfiguration of which need not be described in setting forth thepresent invention. The pontoon is provided with a plurality oftransverse watertight bulkheads 2, 3, 4 and 5 of suitable construction,and is also provided with longitudinal watertight bulkheads 6, l, 8 and9 extending from the bow and stem respectively to the central transversebulkheads 3 and I. The pontoon and bulkheads appear in outline only. Thecentral chamber l0 between the bulkheads 3 and 4 is here illustrated asextending across the full beam of the pontoon, i. without division bylongitudinal bulkheads, but it may be divided horizontally by bulkheadsor partitions into a deck I I and inner bottom and deck l2 (Figure 3).These bulkheads II and deck I2 need not be of water-tight construction.The chamber [0 may be further divided horizontally, or vertically asindicated in Figure 5. The said chamber l0, located at the waist of thepontoon, as shown, constitutes a buoyancy chamber, so called because itis not intended to be flooded at any time in the operation of the dockand always exerts a buoyant effect.

The compartments formed fore and aft of the buoyancy chamber by thetransverse and longitudinal bulkheads, on the other hand, are intendedto be flooded and pumped out during the operation of the dock Thebuoyancy chamber is divided horizontally, as shown, into three spaces,the lowermost space l3 between the inner and outer bottom being adaptedfor use as storage space and for fuel tanks, and the middle space Itbeing used for machinery installations. The upper space l5 serves asliving quarters for a screw to man the pontoon.

Suitable power generating apparatus l6 and H, which may, for example, beDiesel-driven generators, are installed in compartment I4; and suchenerat rs p y he necessary motive power for the propulsion of thepontoon; being connected to a propeller or propellers (not shown) in theusual way; and for a pumping plant used for emptying the pontoon ofwater and other purposes.

In the embodiment illustrated, the plant comprises two pumps 20 and 20,mounted in the machinery room of the buoyancy chamber. If the generatorsl6 and I! produce electricity, motors will be geared to the pumps. Theintake side of the pumps are connected to manifolds or header pipes 2|,2| and the discharge sides to pipes or conduits 22, 22' terminating indischarge ports 23, 23' in one side of the pontoon. The conduits areprovided near the outlet ports with check valves 24, 24, and gate valves25, 25'. The manifolds 2|, 2| extend transversely of the pontoon andterminate in inlet ports 26, 26' in the other side of the pontoon. Nearthese ports are gate valves 21, 21'.

Connected to the manifolds 2|, 2| are branch pipes or conduits 28, 28',one for each of the compartments. The branch conduits are provided withgate valves 29, 29', one in each. A conduit 39 connects manifolds 2| and2|, communication between them being controlled by a gate valve 3 I.

Each of the valves 25, 25, 21, 21', 29,29 and 3| has an electrical valvecontrol device 32 located in the machinery room of the buoyancy chamber,said devices being united to the valves by suitable connectionsindicated at 33 which, in the case of valves 21, 21', 29, 29' and 3|,pass through the transverse water-tight bulkheads by way of suitablestufling boxes (not shown).

In the operation of the dock, when it is desired to flood thecompartments, it is not necessary to operate the pumps 20, 20, and thevalves 25, 25' are closed. Valves 21, 21 and valves 29, 29 are opened topermit water to flow in through ports 25, 26', and through manifolds 2I, 2| and branch conduits 28, 28' into each compartment. Enough ventswith or without valves will be provided in the deck to prevent air inthe compartments from being trapped above the water and opposing itsentrance. By proper manipulation of the valves 21, 21' and 29, 29' theflooding of any compartment or group of compartments may be controlledas desired to maintain any desired condition of balance or trim.

Similarly, when it is desired to pump out the compartments to restorebuoyancy, valves 21, 21 are closed and valves 25, 25' are opened, andthe pumps 29 and 28' operated. Again, by manipulation of the valves, thepumping of any individual compartment or group of compartments may beregulated in any way required.

Each of the compartments is provided with an inside water level gauge 34connected, as illustrated diagrammatically in Figures 4 and 5, to acentral panel 35 located in the machinery space of the buoyancy chamber.There are, for instance, twelve such gauges, one in each pontooncompartment. In addition, an outside water level or draft gauge 35 islocated in each of the bow and stem middle compartments 33, to measurethe depth between the keel and surface of the water outside, and thesegauges are likewise connected to the central panel. By these instru- 7ments and connections the flooding of each pontoon separately and itssubmergence, raising and trim can be more easily observed and managed.The gauges 36 have their bottom openings at the zero draft line.

One of the features of a dry dock embodying my invention resides in thehinged hollow wall sections 31 and 38, adapted to be folded down orlowered to lie upon the deck of the pontoon whenever the dock is notassembled, as shown by broken lines in Figure 1; and raised to uprightposition on the deck of the pontoon whenever th'e dock is made ready foruse. The procedure in doing this involves a predetermined series ofsteps, all the more easily performed as the attendant watches theindicators on the panel 35. After the wall sections are Vertical, theunits are arranged side by side, as in Figure 6 and secured togetherwith the wall sections in line along both sides of the dock and rigidlyconnected to one another. This whole operation is fully explained in myseparate application above mentioned.

Through openings 53 (Figure 1) the wall section 31, when erect, isconnected to all three compartments in front of the bulkhead 2 at thebow; and the section 38 to all three compartments aft of the bulkhead 8in the stern; these compartments being separated by .the longitudinalbulkheads 8 and 1 and 8 and 9 respectively. Each wing section also h'asits interior put into communication with the three adjacent compartmentsadjoining the buoyancy chamber I0 by elbow pipes 58. Air conduits 51pass up through the tight decks 56 near the tops of the wall sections toconnect the space in the sections below them to the atmosphere. Theopenings 53 are uncovered and the pipes 58 attached after the wallsections are lifted upright.

After assembling, there will be times in the regular use of the dock toreceive or release a ship, when all the pontoons must be completelysubmerged simultaneously, leaving only the upper portions of thevertical wing or side walls above water; and the upper end of one of thewall sections, therefore, offers a convenient vantage point forobservation for the up and down movements of the whole dock and aconvenient location for a master station or control house 39. From thisstation th'e water level in each pontoon, and its outside draft can beobserved by the dock master in sinking or raising the entire dock.

To this end suitable transmitting devices 40 are mounted in or adjacentto each panel 35 in the pontoons and connected by electric conductors 4|to indicating devices in the master control house 39. Each of thecontrol panels 35 in the pontoon I carries a mercury indicating tube 42for each of the gauges 34 and two more such tubes, one for each of thedepth gauges 38, making fourteen tubes in all; th'e connections to eachfrom the panel 35 being pneumatic conduits 43. (See Figure 5.)

Each of these conduits contain suitable pressure controlling means 44,so that the pressure in the tubes 42 will be lower than at the gauges,but proportional thereto; so that these tubes may be shortened toconvenient length. With this equipment, the depth of water in each ofthe twelve compartments of each pontoon as well as th'e outside draftcan be accurately given at central panel 35 therein. The tubes work onthe same principle as the barometer.

As stated above, all of this apparatus is used in each pontoon, sinkingand floating it to lower or raise the wall sections 31 and 38 thereof;but a great part is not needed after the wall sections have been raisedand the dock has been assembled. As soon as the pontoons are arrangedside by side (Figure 6) and the wall sections are aligned and secured toone another, all three compartments in the bow of each pontoon forwardof the bulkhead 2 are put into communication with one another; byremoving the covers 45 (Figures 2 and 3) so as to open manholes 48 inthe fore parts of the partitions or bulkheads 8 and 1, which separatethe different bow compartments. The same is done with the threecompartments in the stern aft of the bulkhead 5 by uncovering openings45 in the aft parts of bulkheads 8 and 9. The covers may be held inplace by locking means (not shown). Also similar openings are uncoveredin the bulkheads 8 and 1 between the bulkhead 2 and chamber l8; and inthe bulkheads 8 and 9 between the chamber l0 and bulkhead 5. Thus, thecompartments of each group of three adjacent the chamber Ill, fore andaft, will be in communication. The like openings in the bulkheads 2 and5 are kept closed, and used to facilitate inspection, cleaning, repair,etc. In the deck are vent openings U4. SUNS,

5941 in pairs, connected by short pipes 59 in position to connect allthe water compartments and prevent entrapment of air that wouldinterfere with the flooding or emptying of the pontoons. All theopenings 45 are at the bottom level.

For further work, a part of the gauges 34; two in each pontoon; the oneswhich are located in the two middle compartment 4! adjoining thebuoyancy chamber I; and four gauges 36, in the Compartments 33 at bowand stem of each of the two end pontoons (Figure 6) of the assembleddock, are utilized.

The gauges 36 will now indicate the outside draft at the four endcorners of the assembled dock; and the two gauges 34 in the compartments4! will be sufficient to show the depth of the water in the hull of anypontoon, and any difference in level between the bow and stem thereof.Hence, the gauge 36 in each end pontoon only need be connected to themaster control house 39. I, therefore, connect to the master station 39the four instruments 40 in each end pontoon (Figure 7); that are inoperative relation with the four mercury tubes 42 at the panel 35,belonging to the two gauges 34 in compartments 41 and the two gauges incompartments 33. I also connect to the master station two gauges 34 inthe compartments 33 of each intermediate pontoon.

The transmitting instruments may be gauges, similar to a Bourdon gauge,responsive to pressure in the mercury tubes 42, and having movable partsconnected to control electrical resistances arranged to vary the currentthrough the conductors indicated at 4|. nections of this kind arewell-known and there is believed to be no need for illustration of themhere. These conductors will be suitably enclosed in protective tubing orsheathing 48 and led to junction boxes 49 on the top of one of the wallsections of the pontoon where they will always be above water. (SeeFigures 5 and 6.) Through these junction boxes the conductors 4| of allthe pontoons will be joined to a panel 39a in the master control house39 as shown in Figure 7.

Therefore, in the regular use of the dock, to repair and deliver a ship,the dock master in the control house 39 can tell at an moment what arethe conditions in each separate pontoon unit. The operator in eachpontoon can continue to read the indicators of the gauges incompartments 33 and 41.

Only four connections from one end pontoon to the panel 39a at themaster control station are shown in Figure 7; but there are of coursefour such connectionsleading from the other end pontoon; and suitablemeasuring instruments at the panel 39a connected to each instrument 48;and connections to the master station from the two gauges 34 of eachintermediate pontoon. There will also be at least two junction boxes 48on each pontoon with cables 50 between them. The conductors 4| in eachcable 48 will be properly spliced to the right conductors in the cables58; and the junction boxes be joined from one pontoon to another bycables 5|. Thus connections from the indicating devices 48 of eachpontoon to the master station can readily be completed. The panel 35 canbe connected to either box 49 and the station 39 is connected in by acable 52.

In the control house there will also be a microphone (not shown)connected to a loudspeaker (not shown) in the machinery room ll of eachpontoon so that the dock master may call out his Devices and con- 1Search Room orders to any part of the dock, and the flooding or pumpingout of any one 01' the units can be managed accordingly; through theengines, pumps, and inlet and discharge ports above described. Thewiring for the loudspeakers can also be encased in the cables 48, 58, 5|and 52.

When the dock as a whole is assembled, the buoyancy and flooding effectof the pontoons are enhanced by the hollow side walls. The depth towhich the dock is submerged, therefore, is determined by the admissionof water to the side walls to vary the total buoyancy of the dock. Whenthe side walls are in vertical position, as is always the case when thedock is in use, communication is established between each wall andseveral of the compartments of each pontoon through the ports 53 andpipes 58 to admit water into the side walls from the compartments of thepontoons in submerging, and to drain from the walls to the compartmentsin surfacing. In this manner, the flooding and emptying of the sidewalls may be controlled by manipulation of the valves 25, 25', 21 and21' only, through which the floodin and emptying of the compartments isaccomplished, without providing the side walls with separate valves andpumps. In the wall sections passing through decks 56, the ducts 51uniting the space below them to the atmosphere, facilitate theseoperations.

In practice the ports 53 in each pontoon deck and side wall section maybe shut by a closure or blank plate welded or otherwise secured in placeand removed from the wall sections first when the sections are to beraised; and from the pontoons later, as soon as the wall sections areraised upright. Other means also may be used to control the ports 53.This part of my construction is fully described and in my co-pendingapplication Serial No. 482,375 filed of even date herewith and entitledMultiple unit for floating dry dock, but is not a part of the inventionof the claims herein.

Inside the pontoons and the wall sections are connecting devices 54 and55 of any suitable type to enable the cables 48 to be joined to thejunction boxes 49 when the wall sections are raised and interrupted whenthe walls are lowered, as by conductors 5|a. Th wires 4| are led fromthe panels 35 in each pontoon by means of the cable 48 to the device 55,thence to the device '54 by conductor SM, and further by cable 48 to abox 49 on the wing wall to be continued to the master station 39 asshown in Figure 5.

The pipes 59 are arranged so as to connect each water compartment of apontoon to every adjacent water compartment. The positions of thesepipes is shown in Figure 2. Though this figure is primarily intended toillustrate the pumps, Water conduits, and controlling valves therefor,all below the level of the line 1-2 in Figure l; the air pipes 59; whichare all above the deck, as clearly indicated in Figure 3, have beenadded. The purpose of the air connections 53 is to insure the same airpressure in all the water compartments of the pontoon.

The deck of each pontoon also has air escape openings 60, closed byone-way valves 8|. (Figure 3.) These valves are mounted in yokes 82, andhave stems 63 passing freely through bearings in said yokes. Springs 84hold the valves against their seats. The arrangement of these valvesover each water compartment is also shown in Figure 2. These valvesallow air to escape when the water compartments are flooded. They, ofcourse, never admit air to the pontoons.

but only let it flow out. When the wall sections are down, the holes 59aand 60 are closed by plates which may be welded in place; such platesare moved for setting up the valves and attaching the pipes 59 when thedock is assembled and made ready for use.

The inner ends of the pipes 28 and 28' are of course close to the bottomof the pontoons, and may be surrounded by strainers 28a.

Having described my invention, What I believe to be new and desire tosecure and protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a dry clock, a pontoon comprising a hull having an intake and adischarge port, said hull being divided into a group of compartments ateach end and a buoyancy chamber between the groups, a header pipe and apump in the line thereof at one side of said chamber connected to saidports, the hull having an additional pair of ports for intake anddischarge, a second header pipe and pump in the line thereof at theother side of said chamber connected to said additional ports, branchpipes connecting one header to one group of said compartments and theother to the remainder, and valve means for controlling all of saidpipes.

2. In a dry dock, the combination according to claim 1, having further avalved cross-pipe connecting said headers.

3. In a dry dock, a pontoon comprising a hull having an intake and adischarge port, means for flooding and emptying said hull through saidports, and a hinged wall adapted to lie horizontally on said pontoon andto be raised to a vertical position thereon, said wall having directcommunication with said hull when in vertical position, so that it maybe flooded and pumped out therethrough.

4. In a dry dock comprising pontoons, each of which has a hull with anintake and a discharge port, means connected to said ports for floodingand emptying said hull, gauges at selected points in the hull andindicators in each pontoon connected to said gauges, a master stationoutside the pontoon, indicators thereat, and transmission devicesconnecting-indicators in the pontoons to the indicators at the masterstation.

5. A dry dock including a pontoon having compartments, a water intakeand a water discharge port, means connected to said ports to flood andempty the pontoon, gauges in the compartments, indicators connected tosaid gauges and means for putting said compartments into communicationwith one another so that a part of the indicators suflices forconditions in all said compartments.

6. A dry dock comprising pontoons, each of which has compartments and anintake and a discharge port, means connected to said ports to flood andempty the pontoons, gauges in the compartments and indicators outside ofthe compartments connected to the gauges, a master station outside thepontoon, other indicators thereat, transmission devices for connectingthe indicators of the master station to some of the indicators of eachpontoon, and means for putting the compartments of each pontoon intocommunication with one another so that the indicators thereof connectedto the indicators of the master station will there reveal the conditionof each pontoon.

'7. In a dry dock, comprising pontoons having water inlet and dischargeports, gauges at selected points in each pontoon and indicators in eachpontoon connected to said gauges, a master station outside the pontoon,indicators thereat, and means by which indicators in the pontoonscontrol the indicators at the master station.

8. A dry dock comprising pontoons having water inlet and dischargeports, each pontoon having compartments, means connected to flood andempty said compartments, gauges in the compartments and indicatorsoutside of said compartments connected to the gauges, a master stationoutside the pontoons, other indicators thereat, means for connecting theindicators of the master station to indicators in each pontoon, so thatthe indicators of the master station will there reveal the condition ofeach pontoon.

9. In a dry dock, a pontoon comprising a hull having a deck, andinterior water compartments below deck, air vent valves for achcompartment in said deck, said compartments having openings forcommunication below deck, and air pipes on the deck connecting eachcompartment to all the adjacent compartments.

10. In a dry dock, a pontoon comprising a hull having a deck andinterior water compartments below deck, air vent valves for eachcompartment in said deck, said compartments having openings forcommunication among them, and air pipes connecting each compartment toall adjacent compartments.

11. In a dry dock comprising pontoons, gauges at selected points in eachpontoons and indicators in each pontoon connected to said gauges, amaster station outside the pontoon, indicators thereat, and means bywhich some of the indicators in the pontoons control the indicators atthe master station.

12. A dry dock comprising pontoons, each of which has compartments,means connected to flood and empty said compartments, gauges in thecompartments, and indicators connected to the gauges, a master stationoutside the pontoons, other indicators thereat, and means for connectingthe indicators of the master station to some of the indicators in eachpontoon, so that the indicators of the master station will there revealthe condition of each pontoon.

FREDERIC R. HARRIS.

